Weed burner



Patented Jan. 17, 1.939 l l UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE WEED BURNER George J. Eeberlein, Greeley, Colo. Application April 29, 1937, serial No. 139,751 eciaims. '(01. 12s-271.2)

My invention relates to portable gasolene off the generator till it will not generate, or the torches, or what are known as cactus burners or wind may even blow theame out.

weed burners. So, on a windy day or a very cold day, these In some farming districts grasshoppers become above cited burners will not give perfect satisa plague. When the spring crops are planted in faction, and may even refuse to give service at all. 5 the ground, there is little vegetation in the elds All of these prior art Structures have JuSt 011e except along the ditches and fences. llame, which is substantially circular in section;

If, at the proper times, -the farmer goes along none of them provide a wide flame that will cover the ditches and fences operating a. good gasolene more ground area than a single ame will cover.

torch, he w'lll not only burn the weeds, but what And none of them PlOVide e COVeI Which Wellld 10 is much more important, he will singe and kill all properly cover and shield from the wind twoor the grasshoppers that fly up into the ilame of the more generators, if such' were provided. torch. So, my torch might also be called a grass- The housings ShOWn are IOlmd 01' 011011131' and hopper burner. are attached to the generator coi1s,'but none of Manysuch burners have-been invented. The them are suppeited by being clamped t0 the han- 15 following. are good examples of the prior art: die of the burner. All these burners show the Beever, No. 630,823; Allison, No. 634,130; Snowgenerator coil to be unsupported as fer as the den, No. 638,650; Snowden, No. 657,036; Myers, clamping of the housing on the handle is con- No. 742,344; Farley, No. 872,920; Ploch, No. cerned, and this makes an inherently weak point 2o 1,058,900; Taylor, No. 1,231,969; Monroe, No, yin, theconstruction of them all. None of them 20 1,295,349; and Blackwell, No. 1,625,702. show a feed pipe for a handle with a T at the end But, none of'them are perfectly satisfactory. 0f the ieed pipe for properly clamping the hous- A good weed' burner should be able to stand ing t0 the feed Pipe the rough usage to beexpected on a farm, withl 'I'he object of my invention. therefore. ls vt0 out being too heavy to be carried easily. None Provide a burner in which the housing 1S rmly 25 of these prior art burners are constructed to stand clamped to the feed pipe handle t0 ferm Streng rough usage. extension thereof, and to which housing the gen- The generator coils must be made oi copper or elfetOI means iS clamped. t0 fOrm a Streng. Stii brass tube; in order to be bent into a coil without unit that no ordinary rough usage Can-in 4any breaking or splitting this tube must be quite soft Way damage 30 and easy to bend. None of these above men- A further Object iS t0 PrOVide e bliiliei the-t tioned patents supports the generator coils on will operate perfectly 0n eOid 01' Windy dll-ys by the feed pipe handle except by the soft weak coil Providing a hOuSiDg that iS Open at the front end tube alone. Any rough usage, or a fall by the Only and in which the front 0f the 1101151118 eX- operator and the generator coil is bent out of tends far beyond the front ends of the generator 35 piace and must be repaired before thework 'can Coils, the housing clearing the sides of the coils continue. With a wind at his baci; the operator enough for proper ventilation and combustion.

often proceeds at a slow run, so the ability of the but nOt eIlOllgh t0 Permit the Wind t0 biOW in end burner to stand rough usage is of verygreat imllDSet the PIOPer Operatien 0f the burner: ail fOr 40 portance, None of, these prior art structures proper combustion being let into the housing by a 40 clamp the housing on the handle and clamp the slight opening about the centrally 'located handle, generator cous to the .housing for support. and by an air hole through the housing for each o I generator coil. a ngi ggvfgrgl; :,Ilnslgog A further object is to provide multiple generabumer should have a proper housing. An of tors whose axes are in the same plane, but are these above mentioned weed burners have either gigggt (rllrvlhlill :glggirgdtggtagrg: no housing at all or a housing wide open at both single name generator can cover. The heat from euus 01' u housing not extending au about the leach generator and flame is thus added to by the generator 01 a housing spaced' i900 far from the heat from one or more of the other llames, and 50 generator or a housing not extending far enough this feature combines with the closed housing to forward in fi'ent 0f the generator. S0 that from insure perfect generation underall weather conone cause or another the generator will not be (litmus, hot enough for proper generation on a cold day, A further object is to provide a flattened or or on a windy day a strong wind will either cool oblong c over or housing instead of the usual 55 round housing so that the oblong housing will properly cover the multiple generators so as to protect them from the wind and retain withinv the housing enough heat for proper generation at all the generators.

A further object is to provide clamping means to clamp this oblong cover or housing to a T- shaped feed pipe handle, so there will be no movement between them.

A further object is to provide a combination of housing and multiple generator coils and T- shaped feed pipe handle, that willrigidly support the coils on the handle by means of the housing, will prevent wind from cooling the generators or blowing out the flames, and that will nevertheless provide ample air for perfect combustion at all the generators.

Iattain the above mentioned objects by attaching two or more generators with their coils in the same plane, to a common handle or fuel Vfully explained with reference to the drawing, in

which- Figure 1 is a general view of the burner, shutoff fuel valve, feed pipe handle, hose connection, fuel tank, air pump in the top of the tank, and shoulder strap for carrying the fuel tank. The fuel tank and connection to the feed pipe handle are not parts of my invention, but are shown as they operate with my weedburner.

Figllre 2 shows a sectional view of the housing or cover, looking down on the generators, feed handle and shut-off valve.

Figure 3 shows a side elevation of a portion of the feed handle and generator coil assembly clamped to the housing, with the housing shown in section.

Figure 4 shows an elevation of my weed'burner as seen from the front, and with a portion of the housing shown in section. g

Figure 5 shows a view of the T end of the tubular feed handle and portions of four generator coils.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail showing the formation of the crimp for crimping the parts of the housing together.

The tubular feed handle I, may be of ordinary threaded iron pipe, which is properly connected to the hose 2, and the' hose 2 is properly. con-- nected to the fuel tank 3, whose air pump 4 is employed to put air pressure upon-the gasolene or other fuel in the tank 3, so as to force it to the burner.

The tubular feed handle l, may be composed of any other strong and proper tubular material that will not only carry the fuel, but that will be strong enough to stand rough usage.

The shut-off valve 5 is threadedly connected to the handle I and to the shut-off valve 5 is threadedly attached the front member 6, of the' handle.

The member 6 of the handle is composed of a short piece of pipe provided withthreads at each end to engage the shut-olf valve 5 and the T I respectively. The nipples 8, 8, are `screwed into To the nipples 8, 8, are screwed the street Ls I0, I0; and to the street Ls I II, I0, are screwed the fittings II, II.

To the fittings II, II,'are screwed the ttings I2, I2.

The coils I3, I3, are provided with the unions I4, I4, and are attached thereby to the fittings I2, I2. The course of the 'fuel is from the tank 3, and in turn through the hose 2, the handle I, shut-off valve 5, the front end 6 of the handle, the T 'I, the nipples 8, B, the street Ls III, III, the fittings Il, II, and I2, I2, the unions I4, I4, the coils4 I3, I3, and out of the apertures I9, I9, of the caps I8, I8.

'I'he fuel passes from the unions III, I4, through Ythe coils I3, I3, to the apertures I9, I9, in the caps I 8, I8, which apertures are so located at the rear ends of the coils I3, I3, as to spray the fuel forward through the coils, the apertures I9, I9, being substantially aligned with the axes of the coils.

On the forwardly pointing front end of this rear end of the coil is the tting I5, the tting IS, the screen I'I and the cap I8, which cap I8 is provided with a small hole I 9 through which the fuel feeds in the form of a gas, when the generator is hot.

As the gasolene or other proper fuel is fed to l the generators from the T-shaped feed handle,

it rst 'passes to the front end of the coil and then back and around and around through the coil and tlnally passes out the hole I9. By the time the fuel reaches the hole I 9, it is in the form of fuel vapor. This fuel vapor is-sprayed forward to the coil and through the coil I3, and by this movement it is mixed with air necessary to support combustion and is thrown forward out of the burner as a great ame. The feed handie I, valve 5, member 6, T l, nipples 8, Ls Ill, fittings Il and I2, coils I3, unions I4, fittings I5 and I6, screen I1 and cap I8, all combine to form what may be called the feed handle unit.

In Figures-2 and 4 it will be seen that the coils I3, I3 are not parallel, but though they are in the same plane, which is parallel to the T-shaped handle, their outer ends spread slightly so as to make the ames cover as wide a path as possible vleaving substantially no interval between. the

two flames.

The housing is composed of the at top 20, the bent bottom ZI, and the two bent sides 22.

These four pieces of the housing or cover are attached together by means of the form of crimp shown in Figure 4.

The two sides have their upper and lower edges parts are rst assembled as` shown in Figure 6 4 stiifen it to a surprising degree, without increasing the 'weight to any appreciable extent.

It will be seen as indicated at 25 in Figures 2 and 3, that the housing clears-the front tubular member 6 enough to let in some air for combustion, but not enough air to chill' the generators pass quite equally to all the generators.

The holes 26, 26, directly to the rear of each generator coil I3, supply more air for combustion and this air coming in from thev side of the air entering from about the handle and mixing with it tends to produce turbulence and better mixing of the air with the vapor from the spray holes I9, I9.

The clamp 21 fits about the front end 6 of the feed handle and the screw 28 and nut 29 and washer 30 act to rmly clamp the T-shaped feed handle to the top 20 of the housing. v

Because the T-piece 1 and the street Ls I0, Il), are thicker than the frontend 6 of the vfeed handle, this clamp 21 puts the top 28 of the housing under quite a bending strain which tends to all the more firmly clamp the T-shaped handle and the housing together.,

The clamps 3l, screws 32, nuts 33, washers 34, and spacers 34' are employed to rmly clamp the .outer ends of the coils I3, I3 to the bottom 2| of the housing but slightly spaced therefrom, thus forming a three point clamp for the handle and the coils to the housing.

The result is a most surprising strong, stiff and light unit, with the weak or springy coils well protected and supported and held solidly in place.

In Figure 5 is shown the. T-shaped handle as it would appearfor a four generator torch.

In place of the two street Ls Ill, I0, as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, the two Ts 36,'36, are

screwed to the nipples 8, 8; the coils I3, I3, are then attached tothe Ts 36, 36. Then the nip-v ples 8',-8, yare attached to the Ts 36, 36, then 'two more Ts36, 36, are attached to the nipples 8', 8'. Then the two coils I3, I3, are attached to these last Ts 36, 36,'and the plugs 35, 35, are screwed into the ends of these last Ts 36, 36.

If still more than four generators are desired, the plugs 35 are replaced by nipples 8' and Ts 36 as more generators are'added, the plugs 35 being put in the ends of the outer Ts, or the outer Ts and plugs may be replaced by street Ls such as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4.

The housing in a four or more generator torch will be of the same general construction as that described above, but the top and bottom pieces will be made wide enough to accommodate the additional generators. The T-shaped handle will be clamped to the top of the,- housing in the same way, or perhaps with more than one clamp 21; and the front end of each generator coil I3, will alsol be clamped to the bottom of the housing in the same way; and there will be an air hole 26 and will work just as perfectly regardless of wind' or cold, as those'burners having only two generator coils. y

If for any reason the screens II or the spray nozzles I9 become stopped up with dirt of any kind, the burner may be easily takenA apart as followsz- Remove the clamping screws 32, nuts 33, washers 34 and spacers 34'.

U-nscrew the front end 6 of th e handle from the shut-off valve 5; remove the screw 28, washer 30 and nut 29, and then pull the front end 6 of the handle and the coils I3, I3 forward and out of the housing. After cleaning the parts should be reassembled by reversing the proceeding. Il

clean fuel is used, however, there will be little need for taking the burner apart.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is as followsz- `1. In a weed burner, a rigid tubular, T-shaped fuel feed handle, a plurality of flexible tubular generating coils, each attached atone end to the T-shaped feed handle, a single reinforced sheet metal housing open at the front end and enclosing the T-shaped end of the feed handle and all of the coils and slightly spaced from the handle, the housing being slightly spaced from the coils, clamping means including a metal member 2.. In a weed burner, a T-shaped fuel feed han- 4dle having Aa tubular central portion and a T portion extending on opposite sides thereof, two tubular generating coils attached to the fuel feed handle out of line with the central tubular portion, one end of each coil being connected to the T portion of the feed handle and the other4 end of each coil being provided with a fuel spray- `ing orice adapted to spray fuelforward through the coil, a housing open at the front end and enclosing the coils and the T end portion of the feed handle, clamping means including a member clamped about the feed handle, secure ly attaching the housing to the handle, and

clamping means including a member clamped about the tube of each of said coils, securely at- `ta'ching each coil to the housing.

3. In a weed burner, a rigid tubular feed handle to be connected to a fuel supply .and having a fuel shut-off valve, a plurality of separate iiexible generating coils connected to thev said coils forming a feed handle and coil unit, a-

separate housing enclosing the said coils and surrounding and slightly spaced at one end from' the forward portion of the feed handle to permit the inlet of air to cool the handle and to support the combustion of the fuel sprayed from said nozzles and open at the opposite end, and removable means attaching the housing securely to the said feed handle and coil unit, whereby rem oval of said means will permit the housing toslide,longitudinally from about said coils.

4. In a weed burner, a tubular feed handle to be connected to a fuel supply and having a shutoff valve and having its front end in the form of a T, a plurality of generating coils in a row, which row is slightly to one side of and parallel to the T of the feed handle, each generating coil connected at one end to the T of the handle and each coil having a spray nozzle at its other end to the rear of and co-axial with the coil to spray gasied fuel forward through the coil, said feed handle,.said T and said coils forming a feed handle and coil unit, a housingwenclosing the coils and whose inner surface is slightly spaced therefrom and surrounding the forward portion of the handle and slightly spaced therefrom to provide an air inlet whereby the air coming into the housing for supporting the combustion of the gasied fuel will tend to cool the handle, and supporting means supporting the housing on said feed handle and coil unit,

whereby removal of said supporting means will permit the housing to slide backward from about the coils.

5. In a weed burner, a rigid feed handle, two

flexible coils, each connected at one end to the feed handle, and a single rigid housing fitting about but slightly spaced from the coils, the inner surface of the housing being slightly spaced Vfrom the feed handle, and means including a band of metal clamping about the feed handle to attach the housing to the feed handle, and means including bands of metal clamping about each coiled tube adjacent its front end, to attach the coils to the housing, whereby the exible coils are securely mounted on vthe rigid feed handle through the housing.

6. Ina weed burner having arigid fuel feed handle and flexible generator means of tubing attached to the handle, a housing open at its front end and surrounding the end of the feed handle and longitudinally movable thereon and slightly spaced therefrom at its rear end to permit the entrance of cooling air along `the feed handle, and enclosing the said generator means but slightly spaced therefrom to conserve the heat, said handle and generator means forming a feed handle and generator means unit, and means attaching the housing securely to said feed handle and generator means unit.

GEORGE J. HEBERLEIN. 

